New Liverpool ONE Foundation Grants

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The new Liverpool ONE Foundation grant-making programme has been launched. Liverpool ONE, with support from the Community Foundation for Merseyside, have taken time to review its giving and the needs in the local community to take a more dynamic and less conventional approach.  Adopting a long-term approach, the aims of the Liverpool ONE Foundation is to demonstrate a decrease in children and young people suffering mental health problems in Merseyside.

Liverpool ONE Foundation Fund

This open-grants programme demonstrates how voluntary and community sector organisations can support the prevention of mental health problems in children and young people and improve their mental well-being. The Foundation will be looking to support projects that decrease the number of children and young people suffering mental health problems, raise awareness of mental health issues and projects that help to remove the stigma currently associated with mental health problems or the promotion of mental well-being.

The focus of the fund is to help the lives of local children and young people up to 21 years of age. The main focus of any potential projects should be on the prevention of mental health problems. Priority will be given to projects that help support children and young people develop methods to equip them with the skills necessary to prevent mental health issues occurring.

Examples of the sorts of projects that may be funded:

• Projects developing children and young people’s resilience to mental health problems, e.g. teaching children and young people methods and techniques to equip them with the skills necessary to prevent mental health issues and focus on their mental well-being
• Parenting support to help prevent the development or escalation of mental health problems in children and young people
• Peer mentoring projects
• Alternative approaches such as mindfulness classes or meditation to help children and young people combat feelings of anxiety and worry
• Projects that look to achieve a positive mind-set change around mental health eg, awareness raising projects that look at the impact of bullying

Grants available:

1. For project related costs for up to £5,000
2. For up to £20,000 a year over a period of three years, to support running costs for projects that are currently focusing on the prevention of children and young people mental health problems and the promotion of mental well-being

Both programmes are targeted at grassroots groups in Merseyside and Halton. Priority for the larger grants will be aimed at those with an income of under £500k (larger charities may still be considered).

Liverpool John Moores University Public Health Institute (LJMU) will continually assess the overall impact and success of the Foundation. Applicants will be expected to work with LJMU to determine the impact and outcomes of their projects and costs for applicant’s time can be included

As part of their wider strategy the Liverpool ONE Foundation plans to develop a community/statutory forum aimed at those working on the front line with children and young people. The purpose of the forum will be to provide opportunities to share best practice, identify gaps or duplication in provision and set some key aspirations for mental health and mental well-being. As a condition of grant successful applicants will be invited to participate in the forum which will take place approx. 4 times per year.

Closing date: Friday 18 August 2017 (might be earlier if significantly oversubscribed)

To apply, visit the Community Foundations for Lancashire and Merseyside’s website to complete an online application form.

Liverpool ONE Foundation Small Award Fund

As part of their wider plans the Foundation wishes to pilot a small award fund with the purpose of nurturing innovation to help support the prevention of mental health problems in children and young people and improve their mental well-being. This fund will enable organisations to test ideas or concepts that may be deemed risky or results not guaranteed and although outcomes will be monitored the focus will be more on the new ideas and approaches as well as learning what worked well and what did not.

The focus of the Small Award Programme is to encourage innovation and test new ideas and approaches to determine what works and what doesn’t to help prevent the development of mental health problems and encourage mental well-being in children and young people aged up to 21 years of age. Grants of £1,000-£3,000 are available for small grassroots groups in Merseyside and Halton.

This is a rolling fund with a small budget of £10,000. Once sufficient applications have been received, and the budget spent, Community Foundation will close the fund and potential applicants will be advised via social media channels and the website.

To apply, visit the Community Foundations for Lancashire and Merseyside’s website to complete a short Small Award Fund online application form.

For further information, contact Tina Kennedy, Community Philanthropy Manager at Community Foundations for Lancashire & Merseyside. Call 0151 232 2444 or email tina@cflm.email.